Understanding the Clean Air Act

Did you know?

By reducing air pollution, the Clean Air Act has led to significant improvements in human health and the environment in the United States.

Since 1970,

the six commonly found air pollutants have decreased by more than 50 percent

air toxics from large industrial sources, such as chemical plants, petroleum refineries, and paper mills have been reduced by nearly 70 percent

new cars are more than 90 percent cleaner and will be even cleaner in the future, and

production of most ozone-depleting chemicals has ceased.

At the same time,

the U.S. gross domestic product, or GDP, has tripled

energy consumption has increased by 50 percent, and

vehicle use has increased by almost 200 percent.

Brief History of the Clean Air Act

In October 1948, a thick cloud of air
pollution formed above the industrial
town of Donora, Pennsylvania. The
cloud which lingered for five days,
killed 20 people and caused sickness
in 6,000 of the town's 14,000 people. In 1952, over
3,000 people died in what became known as London's
"Killer Fog." The smog was so thick that buses could
not run without guides walking ahead of them
carrying lanterns.

Events like these alerted us to the dangers that air
pollution poses to public health. Several federal and
state laws were passed, including the original Clean Air
Act of 1963, which established funding for the study
and the cleanup of air pollution. But there was no
comprehensive federal response to address air pollution
until Congress passed a much stronger Clean Air Act
in 1970. That same year Congress created the EPA and
gave it the primary role in carrying out the law. Since
1970, EPA has been responsible for a variety of Clean
Air Act programs to reduce air pollution nationwide.

In 1990, Congress dramatically revised and expanded
the Clean Air Act, providing EPA even broader authority
to implement and enforce regulations reducing air
pollutant emissions. The 1990 Amendments also
placed an increased emphasis on more cost-effective
approaches to reduce air pollution.

Clean Air Act Roles and Responsibilities

The Clean Air Act is a federal law covering the entire
country. However, states, tribes and local governments
do a lot of the work to meet the Act's requirements.
For example, representatives from these agencies work
with companies to reduce air pollution. They also
review and approve permit applications for industries
or chemical processes.

EPA's Role

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA sets limits on certain air
pollutants, including setting limits on how much can
be in the air anywhere in the United States. This helps
to ensure basic health and environmental protection
from air pollution for all Americans. The Clean Air Act
also gives EPA the authority to limit emissions of air
pollutants coming from sources like chemical plants,
utilities, and steel mills. Individual states or tribes may
have stronger air pollution laws, but they may not have
weaker pollution limits than those set by EPA.

EPA must approve state, tribal, and local agency plans
for reducing air pollution. If a plan does not meet the
necessary requirements, EPA can issue sanctions against
the state and, if necessary, take over enforcing the Clean
Air Act in that area.

EPA assists state, tribal, and local agencies by providing
research, expert studies, engineering designs, and
funding to support clean air progress. Since 1970,
Congress and the EPA have provided several billion
dollars to the states, local agencies, and tribal nations to
accomplish this.

State and Local Governments' Role

It makes sense for state and local air pollution
agencies to take the lead in carrying out the Clean Air
Act. They are able to develop solutions for pollution
problems that require special understanding of local
industries, geography, housing, and travel patterns, as
well as other factors.

State, local, and tribal governments also monitor air
quality, inspect facilities under their jurisdictions and
enforce Clean Air Act regulations.

States have to develop State Implementation Plans
(SIPs) that outline how each state will control air
pollution under the Clean Air Act. A SIP is a
collection of the regulations, programs and policies
that a state will use to clean up polluted areas. The
states must involve the public and industries through
hearings and opportunities to comment on the
development of each state plan.

Tribal Nations' Role

In its 1990 revision of the Clean Air Act, Congress
recognized that Indian Tribes have the authority to
implement air pollution control programs.

EPA's Tribal Authority Rule gives Tribes the ability
to develop air quality management programs, write
rules to reduce air pollution and implement and
enforce their rules in Indian Country. While state and
local agencies are responsible for all Clean Air Act
requirements, Tribes may develop and implement only
those parts of the Clean Air Act that are appropriate for
their lands.